Centralized monitoring system, analyzing system and centralized monitoring method

ABSTRACT

The present invention is to present a centralized monitoring system that can efficiently monitor information regarding the remaining amount of a reagent used for each reagent supplying apparatus. The centralized monitoring system comprises: a plurality of reagent supplying apparatuses, each of the reagent supplying apparatuses comprising supplying means for supplying a reagent to an analyzer for analyzing a measurement sample prepared from a sample and the reagent, and transmitting means for transmitting information regarding remaining amount of the reagent; generation means for generating integrated information by integrating the each remaining amount of the reagent in the reagent supplying apparatuses based on the information regarding the remaining amount of the reagent transmitted by the transmitting means; and display means for displaying the each remaining amount of the reagent in the reagent supplying apparatuses based on the integrated information generated by the generation means.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a centralized monitoring system, ananalyzing system and a centralized monitoring method. Especially, thepresent invention relates to a centralized monitoring system, ananalyzing system which comprise a reagent supplying apparatus forsupplying a reagent to an analyzer for analyzing a measurement sampleprepared from a sample and the reagent, and a centralized monitoringmethod.

BACKGROUND

Conventionally, in an inspection facility such as a large-scaleinspection center, a plurality of analyzers for analyzing a sample suchas blood and urine, and a plurality of reagent supplying apparatuses forsupplying a reagent to each analyzer are provided. In such an inspectionfacility, the reagent is supplied to each analyzer from the reagentsupplying apparatuses, and on the side of the analyzer, the suppliedreagent and the sample are blended, and a measurement sample foranalysis is thereby prepared and analyzed. Then, generally a monitor forconfirming a remaining amount of the reagent is provided in each reagentsupplying apparatus, and an operator confirms the remaining amount ofthe reagent displayed on the monitor of each reagent supplying apparatusand performs maintenance such as an exchange of the reagent.

Then, conventionally, U.S. Pat. No. 5,428,993 proposes a technique ofdetecting the remaining amount of the reagent in the reagent supplyingapparatuses and displaying the remaining amount of the reagent thusdetected on the monitor. A reagent container placed on a weight sensoris connected through the tube to an automatic analyzer disclosed in thisU.S. Pat. No. 5,428,993, and the reagent used for analysis is suppliedto the automatic analyzer through the tube from inside the reagentcontainer. In addition, the weight sensor has a function of transmittingto the automatic analyzer total weight data of the reagent container inwhich the reagent is stored. Then, the automatic analyzer that receivesthe total weight data transmitted from the weight sensor displays on themonitor of the reagent supplying apparatus the remaining amount of thereagent and a warning of shortage of reagent calculated from the totalweight data.

However, in the aforementioned conventional inspection facility, theremaining amount of the reagent is displayed on the monitor of eachreagent supplying apparatus, thus involving a problem that an operatormust move to each reagent supplying apparatus to confirm the remainingamount of the reagent. In addition, in order to grasp the remainingamount of the reagent in the whole inspection facility, the operatorneeds to move around all the reagent supplying apparatuses to confirmthe remaining amount of the reagent in each reagent supplying apparatusand record it on paper, etc. Therefore, labor and time are required forconfirming information regarding the remaining amount of the reagentused for each reagent supplying apparatus, thus making it difficult toefficiently monitor the information regarding the remaining amount ofthe reagent.

SUMMARY

A first aspect of the present invention is a centralized monitoringsystem, comprising: a plurality of reagent supplying apparatuses, eachof the reagent supplying apparatuses comprising supplying means forsupplying a reagent to an analyzer for analyzing a measurement sampleprepared from a sample and the reagent, and transmitting means fortransmitting information regarding remaining amount of the reagent;generation means for generating integrated information by integratingthe each remaining amount of the reagent in the reagent supplyingapparatuses based on the information regarding the remaining amount ofthe reagent transmitted by the transmitting means; and display means fordisplaying the each remaining amount of the reagent in the reagentsupplying apparatuses based on the integrated information generated bythe generation means.

A second aspect of the present invention is an analyzing system,comprising: an analyzer for analyzing a measurement sample prepared froma sample and a reagent; a plurality of reagent supplying apparatuses,each of the reagent supplying apparatuses comprising supplying means forsupplying the reagent to the analyzer, and transmitting means fortransmitting information regarding remaining amount of the reagent;generation means for generating integrated information by integratingthe each remaining amount of the reagent in the reagent supplyingapparatuses based on the information regarding the remaining amount ofthe reagent transmitted by the transmitting means; and display means fordisplaying the each remaining amount of the reagent in the reagentsupplying apparatuses based on the integrated information generated bythe generation means.

A third aspect of the present invention is a centralized monitoringmethod, comprising steps of: (a) collecting information regarding eachremaining amount of a reagent in a plurality of reagent supplyingapparatuses, each of the reagent supplying apparatuses being configuredto supply the reagent to an analyzer for analyzing a measurement sampleprepared from a sample and the reagent; and (b) displaying the eachremaining amount of the reagent in the reagent supplying apparatusesbased on the information collected by the step (a)

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing a whole constitution of an analyzingsystem according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing an inspection line in an inspectioncenter of the analyzing system according to one embodiment as shown inFIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a reagent preparation apparatus of theanalyzing system according to one embodiment as shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a reagent feeding apparatus of theanalyzing system according to one embodiment as shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a server of the analyzing system accordingto one embodiment as shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a client computer of the analyzing systemaccording to one embodiment as shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a view showing a screen (apparatus state screen) displayed ona display part of the client computer of the analyzing system accordingto one embodiment as shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a view showing a screen (preparation apparatus state detailedscreen) displayed on the display part of the client computer of theanalyzing system according to one embodiment as shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is a view showing a screen (reagent feeding apparatus statedetailed screen) displayed on the display part of the client computer ofthe analyzing system according to one embodiment as show in FIG. 1;

FIG. 10 is a view showing a screen (preparation history screen)displayed on the display part of the client computer of the analyzingsystem according to one embodiment as shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 11 is a view showing a screen (preparation error history screen)displayed on the display part of the client computer of the analyzingsystem according to one embodiment as shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 12 is a view showing a screen (reagent feeding error historyscreen) displayed on the display part of the client computer of theanalyzing system according to one embodiment as shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing an operation flow of the reagentpreparation apparatus of the analyzing system according to oneembodiment as shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 14 is a flowchart for explaining details (sub-routine) ofpreparation of diluted solution as shown in step S3 of FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a flowchart for explaining details (sub-routine) of adetection method of the remaining amount of the reagent as shown in stepS4 of FIG. 13;

FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing the operation flow of the reagent feedingapparatus in the analyzing system according to one embodiment as shownin FIG. 1; and

FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing an exchange between a sever and a clientin the analyzing system according to one embodiment as shown in FIG. 1.

DETAILE DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be explained basedon the drawings hereunder.

First, an analyzing system 1 according to one embodiment of the presentinvention will be explained with reference to FIG. 1 to FIG. 6.

The analyzing system 1 according to one embodiment of the presentinvention is a system introduced to a facility where large numbers ofsamples (blood) are treated, such as an inspection room and aninspection center of a large scale hospital, and a constitution can bechanged in accordance with a scale of an installed facility. In thisanalyzing system 1, as shown in FIG. 1, a server 100 in a sampleprocessing center, a client computer 200 provided on a place separatedfrom the sample processing center, and a plurality of reagent supplyingapparatuses 2 are connected by a cable or radio through a communicationnetwork 300 such as a wire LAN and a wireless LAN, so as to communicatedata with each other.

In the sample processing center, as shown in FIG. 2, inspection lines 1to 7 for processing a plurality of collected samples and a re-inspectionline 8 for processing the sample requiring re-inspection out of thesamples inspected by the inspection lines 1 to 7 are provided inaddition to the server 100 connected to the client computer 200. Each ofthe inspection lines 1 to 7 is composed of a reagent supplying apparatus2 including a single reagent preparation apparatus 10 (see FIG. 1) and asingle reagent feeding apparatus 30 (see FIG. 1); five hematocytecounting apparatuses 3 for analyzing a measurement sample for analysisprepared from the reagent (diluted solution and hemolytic agent)supplied from the reagent supplying apparatus 2 and the sample (blood);and a conveying apparatus 5 for conveying the sample to each hematocytecounting apparatus 3. Also, the re-inspection line 8 is composed of theaforementioned reagent supplying apparatus 2, three hematocyte countingapparatuses 3, and the conveying apparatus 5 for conveying the sample toeach hematocyte counting apparatus 3. Note that the hematocyte countingapparatuses 3 function to calculate the number of red blood cells andthe number of white blood cells in the blood. Further, separately fromthe inspection lines 1 to 7 and the re-inspection line 8, an inspectionline 9 is provided, which is composed of a single reagent preparationapparatus 10, and three blood sample smearing apparatuses 4 for smearinga blood sample on a slide glass by using the diluted solution suppliedfrom this reagent preparation apparatus 10. Note that in the bloodsample smearing apparatus 4 of the inspection line 9, the reagentfeeding apparatus 30 is not provided, unlike the inspection lines 1 to 7and the re-inspection line 8.

The reagent preparation apparatus 10 provided in the inspection lines 1to 7, the re-inspection line 8 and the inspection line 9 are providedfor preparing the reagent (referred to as a diluted solution hereafter)by blending a concentrated saline solution for dilution (referred to asa concentrated reagent) and pure water, and thereafter supplying adiluted solution thus prepared to the hematocyte counting apparatuses 3and the blood sample smearing apparatus 4. In this reagent preparationapparatus 10, as shown in FIG. 3, a pure water tank 11 forquantitatively measuring and supplying the pure water, a pure waterquantity measuring tank 12, and a pure water quantity measuring pump(diaphragm pump) 13 are provided. In addition, in the reagentpreparation apparatus 10, a reagent quantity measuring tank 14 and aconcentrated reagent quantity measuring pump (diaphragm pump) 15 forquantitatively measuring and supplying the concentrated reagent areprovided. Note that the concentrated reagent blended with the pure waterby the reagent preparation apparatus 10 is stored in external storingparts 31 a to 31 c of the reagent preparation apparatus 10. In addition,the reagent preparation apparatus 10 includes a controller 23 thatcontrols operations of a dilution part 16, a stirring part 17, anelectric conductivity meter 18, a reagent storage tank 19, a circulationpump 20, a filter 21, a reagent supplying tank 22, and the reagentpreparation apparatus 10. In addition, the reagent preparation apparatus10 of this embodiment is connected to three storing parts 31 a to 31 cin which the concentrated reagent is respectively stored, and three setsof pure water quantity measuring tank 12, pure water quantity measuringpump 13, reagent quantity measuring tank 14, concentrated reagentquantity measuring pump 15, dilution part 16, stirring part 17, electricconductivity meter 18, reagent storage tank 19, circulation pump 20,filter 21, and reagent supplying tank 22, excluding the pure water tank11 and the controller 23, are provided so as to correspond to the threestoring parts 31 a to 31 c. Then, the pure water tank 11 and thecontroller 23 are shared by the aforementioned each part, three sets ofwhich are provided as described above. Note that a concentrated reagentA is stored in the storing parts 31 a and 31 b respectively, and aconcentrated reagent B is stored in the storing part 31 c.

Also, in this embodiment, the storing parts 31 a to 31 c, in which theconcentrated reagent is stored, are placed on weight sensors 32 a to 32c having a function of detecting the weight of the storing parts 31 a to31 c. In addition, the weight sensors 32 a to 32 c are connected to thecontroller 23, and detected weight data of the storing parts 31 a to 31c is transmitted to the controller 23.

The pure water tank 11 is provided for storing the pure water suppliedfrom outside the apparatus, and is connected to the pure water quantitymeasuring tank 12 and the pure water quantity measuring pump 13. Also,the pure water quantity measuring tank 12 has a function of sending thepure water stored in the pure water tank 11 to the dilution part 16,after quantitatively measuring the water. Further, the pure waterquantity measuring pump (diaphragm pump) 13 has a function ofdischarging a fixed quantity of liquid, and discharges a fixed quantityof pure water from the pure water quantity measuring tank 12 to thedilution part 16.

The reagent quantity measuring tank 14 has a function of quantitativelymeasuring and storing the concentrated reagent stored in the externalstoring parts 31 a to 31 c. Also, the concentrated reagent quantitymeasuring pump (diaphragm pump) 15 has a function of discharging a fixedquantity of liquid, and discharges a fixed quantity of concentratedreagent from the reagent quantity measuring tank 14 to the dilution part16.

The dilution part 16 is provided for receiving and blending the purewater and the concentrated reagent. In the inside the dilution part 16,a stirring wing 17 a of the stirring part 17, and a detector 18 a of theelectric conductivity meter 18 are disposed. Also, the stirring part 17has the stirring wing 17 a for stirring the pure water and theconcentrated reagent in the dilution part 16.

Further, in this embodiment, the electric conductivity meter 18 has thedetector 18 a that comes in contact with the dilution solution stored inthe dilution part 16, and measures electric conductivity of the dilutedsolution in the dilution part 16. Then, the electric conductivity thusmeasured by the electric conductivity meter 18 is transmitted to thecontroller 23 which will be described later, and in the controller 23,whether or not measured electric conductivity is within a desired rangeis determined. Note that the electric conductivity is defined by aninverse number of an electric resistance of an electrolyte aqueoussolution between electrodes filled with the electrolyte aqueous solution(diluted solution in this embodiment), and is an index showing aflowability of electricity flowing through the electrolyte aqueoussolution. The electric conductivity is measured in this embodiment. Thisis because the electric conductivity changes depending on an amount (ionamount) of the concentrated reagent supplied to the dilution part 16,and therefore a change of the electric conductivity of a prepareddiluted solution can be regarded as a change of a concentration of saltsin the diluted solution. In addition, an electric conductivity valuechanges depending on a change of a temperature of the electrolyteaqueous solution, and therefore the temperature of the diluted solutionis monitored by a temperature meter not shown. Then, the electricconductivity that fluctuates by temperature is corrected by thecontroller 23 which will be described later.

The reagent storage tank 19 is provided for receiving the dilutedsolution of a predetermined concentration (electric conductivity) in thedilution part 16. Accordingly, even when the concentrated reagent storedin the storing parts 31 a to 31 c runs out, a situation that the dilutedsolution is not supplied to the hematocyte counting apparatuses 3 (seeFIG. 1 and FIG. 2) or the blood sample smearing apparatus 4(see FIG. 2)from the reagent preparation apparatus 10 is prevented immediately,because a predetermined amount of diluted solution is stored in thereagent storage tank 19.

The circulation pump 20 is provided for circulating the diluted solutionstored in the reagent storage tank 19 to the reagent supplying tank 22and the reagent storage tank 19 through the filter 21. Then, the dilutedsolution passed through the filter 21 is partially stored in the reagentsupplying tank 22, and is supplied to each hematocyte counting apparatus3 (see FIG. 1 and FIG. 2) or the blood sample smearing apparatus 4 (seeFIG. 2) from the reagent storage tank 19.

Here, in this embodiment, the controller 23 is connected to the weightsensors 32 a to 32 c on which the storing parts 31 a to 31 c storing theconcentrated reagent are placed and the server 100, and has a functionof receiving the weight data detected by the weight sensors 32 a to 32 cand transmitting it to the server 100. At this time, based on the weightdata thus received, the controller 23 calculates the remaining amount(remaining amount data) of the concentrated reagent stored in thestoring parts 31 a to 31 c, and thereafter transmits the calculatedremaining amount data to the server 100.

Then, the reagent feeding apparatus 30 provided on the inspection lines1 to 7 and the re-inspection line 8 are provided for supplying ahemolytic agent, whereby blood corpuscles in the blood is broken, to thehematocyte counting apparatuses 3. Accordingly, the reagent feedingapparatus 30 is not provided on the inspection line 9 where thehematocyte counting apparatuses 3 are not provided. As shown in FIG. 4,this reagent feeding apparatus 30 includes a switching valve 25 aconnected to a reagent tank 33 a and a reagent tank 33 b, a switchingvalve 25 b connected to a reagent tank 33 c and a reagent tank 33 d, aswitching valve 25 c connected to a reagent tank 33 e and a reagent tank33 f, a switching valve 25 d connected to a reagent tank 33 g and areagent tank 33 h, a switching valve 25 e connected to a reagent tank 33i and a reagent tank 33 j which are outside the apparatus, and acontroller 26 for controlling an operation of the reagent feedingapparatus 30. Namely, the reagent feeding apparatus 30 of thisembodiment is connected to 10 reagent tanks 33 a to 33 j. In addition,different kinds of hemolytic agents can be stored in the reagent tanks33 a and 33 b, the reagent tanks 33 c and 33 d, the reagent tanks 33 eand 33 f, the reagent tanks 33 g and 33 h, and the reagent tanks 33 iand 33 j, respectively, and five kinds of the hemolytic agents in totalcan be set.

Further, in this embodiment, the switching valves 25 a to 25 e arecontrolled by the controller 26, and have a function of supplying thehemolytic agent from either one of the reagent tank 33 a (33 c, 33 e, 33g, 33 i) or the reagent tank 33 b (33 d, 33 f, 33 h, 33 j). Then, theswitching valve 25 a is provided with an electromagnetic valve 251 a foropening and closing the flow passage through which the hemolytic agentsent out from the reagent tank 33 a flows, and an electromagnetic valve252 a for opening and closing the flow passage through which thehemolytic agent sent out from the reagent tank 33 b flows. Also, theswitching valves 25 b to 25 e are provided with two same electromagneticvalves as the electromagnetic valve 251 a and the electromagnetic valve252 a, respectively. Thus, by the switching valves 25 a to 25 e, afterthe hemolytic agent is supplied to the hematocyte counting apparatuses 3until the hemolytic agent in one of the reagent tanks becomes empty, thehemolytic agent in the other tank can be continuously supplied to thehematocyte counting apparatuses 3. Note that whether or not thehemolytic agent in each of the reagent tanks 33 a to 33 j is empty isdetected by float switches 34 a to 34 j disposed in each of the reagenttanks 33 a to 33 j.

Next, the constitution of the server 100 will be explained. The server100 (see FIG. 1 and FIG. 2) is a Web server, and is provided for storinginformation transmitted from the reagent preparation apparatus 10 andthe reagent feeding apparatus 30 of each inspection line 1 to 9, andtransmitting the stored information through a communication network 300responding to a request of the client computer 200. As shown in FIG. 5,the server 100 is mainly composed of a server main body part 101, adisplay part 102, and an input part 103. The server main body part 101is mainly composed of a CPU 101 a, a ROM 101 b, a RAM 101 c, a hard disk101 d, a reading device 101 e, an input/output interface 101 f, acommunication interface 101 g, and an image output interface 101 h,wherein the CPU 101 a, the ROM 101 b, the RAM 101 c, the hard disk 101d, the reading device 101 e, the input/output interface 101 f, thecommunication interface 101 g, and the image output interface 101 h areconnected by a bus 101 i.

The CPU 101 a is capable of executing a computer program stored in theROM 101 b and a computer program loaded into the RAM 101 c. Then, byexecuting a Web server program by this CPU 101 a, the server 100functions as the Web server.

The ROM 101 b is composed of a mask ROM, PROM, EPROM, and EEPROM, etc.,and stores the computer program executed by the CPU 101 a and data usedtherefore.

The RAM 101 c is composed of a SRAM or a DRAM, etc. A RAM 101 c is usedfor reading the computer program recorded in the ROM 101 b and the harddisk 101 d. When these computer programs are executed, the RAM 101 c isused as a working area of the CPU 101 a.

The hard disk 101 d has installed therein various kinds of computerprograms to be executed by the CPU 101 a, such as the operating system,application programs” etc., and data used for executing these computerprograms.

A reading device 101 e is constituted of a flexible disk drive, a CD-ROMdrive, or a DVD-ROM drive, etc., and is capable of reading the computerprogram or data recorded on a portable recording medium 101 j. Inaddition, the portable recording medium 101 j has stored therein anapplication program whereby the server 100 functions as a server device,and the server 100 can read the application program according to thisembodiment from this portable recording medium 101 j and install thisapplication program on the hard disk 101 d.

Note that the application program is not only supplied by the portablerecording medium 101 j, but also can be supplied through the electriccommunication circuit (whether it is by a cable or radio) from anexternal apparatus connected to the client computer 200 so as to becommunicated with each other by the aforementioned electriccommunication circuit. For example, when the application program isstored in the hard disk of the server computer on the internet, it ispossible to access this server computer by the server 100 of thisembodiment, download the corresponding application program, and installit on the hard disk 101 d.

On the hard disk 101 d, for example, an operating system of providing agraphical user interface environment by a window system such as aWindows (registered trademark) produced and distributed by US Microsoft,or an Unix (registered trademark) operating system and an X windowsystem, being a window system operating on this operating system, areinstalled.

The input/output interface 101 f is constituted of, for example, aserial interface such as an USB, an IEEE1394, an RS-232C, a parallelinterface such as a SCSI, an IDE, and an IEEE1284, and an analogueinterface composed of a D/A converter and an A/D converter, etc. Theinput part 103 composed of a keyboard and a mouse is connected to theinput/output interface 101 f, and by using this input part 103 by a usersuch as an operator, a manager, a user supervisor, and a maintenancetechnician, etc., the data can be inputted in the server 100.

The communication interface 101 g is an Ethernet (registered trademark)interface, for example. By this communication interface 101 g, datatransmission/reception by the server 100 is possible between the serverand apparatuses (the reagent preparation apparatus 10, the reagentfeeding apparatus 30, and the client computer 200) connected to thecommunication network 300 by using a predetermined communicationprotocol.

The image output interface 101 h is connected to the display part 102constituted of an LCD or a CRT, etc., and outputs an image signal to thedisplay part 102 in accordance with image data supplied from the CPU 101a. The display part 102 displays an image (screen) by following theimage signal thus inputted.

Next, the constitution of the client computer 200 will be explained. Theclient computer 200 is connected to the server 100 (see FIG. 1), being aWeb server, through the communication network 300 (see FIG. 1), andserves as a personal computer on which a Web browser for browsing theinformation stored in the server 100 is installed. As shown in FIG. 1,this client computer 200 is mainly constituted of a main body part 201,a display part 202, and an input part 203. The main body part 201 ismainly constituted of a CPU 201 a, an ROM 201 b, an RAM 201 c a harddisk 201 d, a reading device 201 e, an input/output interface 201 f, acommunication interface 201 g, and an image output interface 201 h,wherein the CPU 201 a, the ROM 201 b, the RAM 201 c, the hard disk 201d, the reading device 201 e, the input/output interface 201 f, thecommunication interface 201 g, and the image output interface 201 h areconnected by a bus 201 i.

The CPU 201 a can execute the computer program stored in the ROM 201 band the computer program loaded on the RAM 201 c. Then, by executing theapplication program of the Web browser by this CPU 201 a, the clientcomputer 200 functions as a client.

The ROM 201 b is constituted of a mask ROM, a PROM, an EPROM, and anEEPROM, etc., and the computer program executed by the CPU 201 a and thedata used therefore are stored therein.

The RAM 201 c is constituted of a SRAM or a DRAM, etc. The RAM 201 c isused for reading the computer program recorded in the ROM 201 b and thehard disk 201 d, and is used as the working area of the CPU 201 a whenthese computer programs are executed.

The hard disk 201 d has installed therein various computer programs tobe executed by the CPU 201 a, such as the operating system and anapplication program of the Web browser, and the data used for executingthese computer programs.

In addition, on the hard disk 201 d, for example, the operating systemof providing the graphical user interface environment by the windowsystem such as a Windows (registered trademark) produced and distributedby US Microsoft, or the Unix (registered trademark) operating system andthe X window system, being a window system that operates on thisoperating system, are installed. In the explanation given hereunder, theapplication program of the Web browser is assumed to be operated on sucha window system.

The reading device 201 e is constituted of a flexible disk drive, aCD-ROM drive, or a DVD-ROM drive, etc.

The input/output interface 201 f is, for example, constituted of theserial interface such as USB, IEEE1394, RS-232C, the parallel interfacesuch as SCSI, IDE, and IEEE1284, and the analogue interface composed ofthe D/A converter and the A/D converter, etc. The input part 203composed of the keyboard and mouse is connected to the input/outputinterface 201 f, and by using this input part 203 by the operator,manager, user supervisor, and maintenance technician, etc., the data canbe inputted in the client computer 200.

The communication interface 201 g is, for example, the Ethernet(registered trademark) interface. By this communication interface 201 g,the client computer 200 is connected to the communication network 300 byusing a predetermined communication protocol, to make it possible totransmit/receive data between the client computer and the apparatuses(the reagent preparation apparatus 10, the reagent feeding apparatus 30,and the server 100).

The image output interface 201 h is connected to the display part 202constituted of the. LCD or the CRT, etc., and outputs to the displaypart 202 the image signal corresponding to the image data supplied fromthe CPU 201 a. The display part 202 displays the image (screen) byfollowing the image signal thus inputted.

The CPU 201 a requests a transmission of the information stored in theserver 100 by using the installed Web browser, and thus receives theinformation transmitted from the server 100 that receives a transmissionrequest, and displays the information thus received on the display part202.

FIG. 7 to FIG. 12 are views showing the screen displayed on the displaypart of the client computer of the analyzing system according to oneembodiment shown in FIG. 1. Next, with reference to FIG. 7 to FIG. 12,an explanation will be given to details of the screens (an apparatusstate screen 400 a (initial screen), a preparation apparatus statedetailed screen 400 b, a reagent feeding apparatus state detailed screen400 c, a preparation history screen 400 d, a preparation error historyscreen 400 e, and a reagent feeding error history screen 400 f) that aredisplayed on the display part 202 of the client computer 200.

The apparatus state screen 400 a (see FIG. 7) is the initial screen whenactivating the client computer 200 connected to the server 100 so as tobe communicated with each other. In this apparatus state screen 400 a,it is possible to confirm an operation state of nine reagent preparationapparatuses 10 provided on each of the inspection lines 1 to 9, theremaining amount of the concentrated reagent used in the reagentpreparation apparatuses 10, an operation state of eight reagent feedingapparatuses 30 provided on each of the inspection lines 1 to 8, andexistence/non-existence of the hemolytic agent sent out by the reagentfeeding apparatuses 30.

As shown in FIG. 7, an apparatus state button 401 for displaying thescreen (apparatus state screen 400 a), a preparation history button 402for displaying the preparation history screen 400 d (see FIG. 10), apreparation error history button 403 for displaying the preparationerror history screen 400 e (see FIG. 11), and a reagent feeding errorhistory button 404 for displaying the reagent feeding error historyscreen 400 f (see FIG. 12) are displayed on the apparatus state screen400 a.

Then, the apparatus state screen 400 a as shown in FIG. 7 is providedwith a preparation apparatus information display part 410 for displayingeach kind of information regarding the reagent preparation apparatus 10,and a reagent feeding apparatus information display part 420 on whicheach kind of information regarding the reagent feeding apparatus 30 isdisplayed.

The preparation apparatus information display part 410 is provided withan inspection line information display part 411 on which the operationstate of the reagent preparation apparatus 10 provided in the inspectionline 1 (see FIG. 2) in the inspection center, and the remaining amountof the concentrated reagent used in the reagent preparation apparatus 10are displayed. Then, the inspection line information display part 411displays an icon 411 a showing an outer appearance of the reagentpreparation apparatus 10, and a remaining amount display part 411 bshowing by a graph the remaining amount of the concentrated reagentstored in each of the three storing parts 31 a to 31 c (see FIG. 3). Inaddition, the icon 411 a shows the operation state of the reagentpreparation apparatus 10 by changing a background color of the outerappearance of the apparatus. Specifically, yellow color is displayedwhen the reagent preparation apparatus 10 is initialized, green color isdisplayed when the reagent preparation apparatus 10 is set in stand-bymode, blue color is displayed when the reagent preparation apparatus 10is in the middle of operating, red color is displayed when abnormalityoccurs, and gray color is displayed when the communication isinterrupted, as the color of the outer appearance of the apparatus ofthe icon 411 a. Also, in the preparation apparatus information displaypart 410, the same inspection line information display part 411 as theinspection line information display part 411 for the aforementionedinspection line 1 is provided for each reagent preparation apparatus 10provided on the inspection lines 2 to 9.

Note that in FIG. 7, the icon 411 a of the inspection line informationdisplay part 411 of the inspection line 1 is displayed in red color(area shown by thick hatched lines), and the operator can confirmabnormality occurring in the reagent preparation apparatus 10 of theinspection line 1. Also, the icon 411 a of the inspection lineinformation display part 411 of the inspection line 3 is displayed ingray color (area shown by thin hatching lines in an obliquely upperright direction), and the operator can confirm that the communicationbetween the reagent preparation apparatus 10 of the inspection line 3and the server 100 (see FIG. 1) is interrupted. Also, the icon 411 a ofthe inspection line information display part 411 of the inspection line5 is displayed in green color (area shown by thin hatched lines in anobliquely upper left direction), and the operator can confirm that thereagent preparation apparatus 10 of the inspection line 5 is set in astand-by mode. Then, the icon 411 a of the inspection line informationdisplay part 411 of the inspection line 2, inspection line 4, and theinspection lines 6 to 9 is displayed in blue color (area withouthatching lines), and the operator can confirm that each reagentpreparation apparatus 10 of the inspection line 2, inspection line 4,and the inspection lines 6 to 9 is normally operated.

Three graphs of the remaining amount display part 411 b are displayed soas to correspond to the three storing parts 31 a to 31 c (see FIG. 3) inwhich the concentrated reagent is stored. Specifically, the graphcorresponding to the number “A” assigned to the remaining amount displaypart 411 b shows the remaining amount of the concentrated reagent Astored in the storing part 31 a, and the graph corresponding to thenumber “B” shows the remaining amount of the concentrated reagent Astored in the storing part 31 b, and the graph corresponding to thenumber “C” shows the remaining amount of a concentrated reagent B storedin the storing part 31 c. Also, a mark “

” to request an exchange of the reagent is assigned to the number “A” ofthe remaining amount display part 411 b of the inspection lineinformation display part 411 of the inspection line 5. Thus, it ispossible for the operator to confirm the mark “

” assigned to the number “A” of the remaining amount display part 411 band to confirm a necessity of exchanging the concentrated reagent.

In addition, the preparation apparatus information display part 410 isprovided with an exchange reagent list button 411 c for displaying as alist the remaining amount of the concentrated reagent used in thereagent preparation apparatus 10, a presence/absence of the hemolyticagent used in the reagent feeding apparatus 30 and the number of emptiedreagents (concentrated reagent and hemolytic agent), and an concentratedreagent name display column 411 d for displaying a name of theconcentrated reagent stored in each of the three storing parts 31 a to31 c (see FIG. 3). Accordingly, the operator can confirm that theconcentrated reagent stored in the storing part 3 la and the storingpart 31 b used in each reagent preparation apparatus 10 of theinspection lines 1 to 9 is the “concentrated reagent A”, and theconcentrated reagent stored in the storing part 31 c is the“concentrated reagent B”.

The reagent feeding apparatus information display part 420 is providedwith an inspection line information display part 421 on which theoperation state of the reagent feeding apparatus 30 provided on theinspection line 1 (see FIG. 2) in the inspection center and thepresence/absence of the hemolytic agent sent out from the reagentfeeding apparatus 30 are displayed. Then, the inspection lineinformation display part 421 displays an icon 421 a showing the outerappearance of the reagent feeding apparatus 30 and a remaining amountdisplay part 421 b showing by characters the presence/absence of thehemolytic agent stored in each of the ten reagent tanks 33 a to 33 j(see FIG. 4). Also, the icon 421 a shows the operation state of thereagent feeding apparatus 30 by changing the background color of theouter appearance of the apparatus. Specifically, in the same way as theicon 411 a of the reagent preparation apparatus 10 as described above,yellow color is displayed when the reagent feeding apparatus 30 isinitialized, green color is displayed when it is set in a stand-by mode,blue color is displayed when it is in the middle of operating, red coloris displayed when abnormality occurs, and gray color is displayed whenthe communication is interrupted, as the color of the outer appearanceof the apparatus of the icon 421 a. Also, for each reagent feedingapparatus 30 provided on the inspection lines 2 to 8, the reagentfeeding apparatus information display part 420 is provided with the sameinspection line information display part 421 as the inspection lineinformation display part 421 for the aforementioned inspection line 1.

Note that in FIG. 7, the icon 421 a of the inspection line informationdisplay part 421 of the inspection line 5 is displayed in gray color(area shown by thin hatching lines in an obliquely upper rightdirection), and the operator can confirm that the communication betweenthe reagent feeding apparatus 30 (see FIG. 1) of the inspection line 5and the server 100 (see FIG. 1) is interrupted. Then, the icon 421 a ofthe inspection line information display part 421 of the inspection lines1 to 4 and the inspection lines 6 to 8 is displayed in blue color (areawithout hatching lines), and the operator can confirm that each reagentfeeding apparatus 30 of the inspection lines 1 to 4 and the inspectionlines 6 to 8 is normally operated.

The remaining amount display part 421 b is provided with ten remainingamount presence/absence display columns 421 c for each of the reagenttanks 33 a to 33 j (see FIG. 4). Then, in the remaining amountpresence/absence display columns 421 c, “supply” is displayed when thehemolytic agent of the reagent tanks 33 a to 33 j is in the middle ofsupplying by the reagent feeding apparatus 30, “full” is displayed whenthe hemolytic agent is present, and “empty” is displayed when thehemolytic agent is absent. Note that the “full” and “empty” displayed onthe remaining amount presence/absence display column 421 c are displayedbased on the presence/absence of the hemolytic agent detected by thefloat switches 34 a to 34 j. Thus, the operator can confirm the “empty”of the remaining amount presence/absence display column 421 c, and canconfirm the necessity of exchanging the hemolytic agent.

Further, the reagent feeding apparatus information display part 420 isprovided with a hemolytic agent name display column 421 d for displayingthe name of the hemolytic agent stored in the reagent tanks 33 a to 33j, and the operator can confirm that the hemolytic agent stored in thereagent tanks 33 a and 33 b is a “hemolytic agent A”, the hemolyticagent stored in the reagent tanks 33 c and 33 d is a “hemolytic agentB”, the hemolytic agent stored in the reagent tanks 33 e and 33 f is a“hemolytic agent C”, and the hemolytic agent stored in the reagent tanks33 g and 33 h is a “hemolytic agent D”. Note that in the hematocytecounting apparatuses 3 of this embodiment, other kind of the hemolyticagent excluding the aforementioned hemolytic agent is not used, andtherefore the hemolytic agent is not stored in the reagent tanks 33 iand 33 j (see FIG. 4).

The preparation apparatus state detailed screen 400 b (see FIG. 8) isthe screen displayed by selecting (clicking by using a mouse not shown)the icon 411 a (see FIG. 7) of the aforementioned preparation apparatusinformation display part 410, and the reagent feeding apparatusinformation display part 420 (see FIG. 7) of the apparatus state screen400 a shown in FIG. 7 is switched to the preparation apparatus statedetailed part 430. This preparation apparatus state detailed part 430has a function of displaying a detailed state of the reagent preparationapparatus 10. Note that this embodiment shows a case that the icon 411 a(see FIG. 7) corresponding to the reagent preparation apparatus 10 ofthe inspection line 1 is clicked to display the detailed information ofthe reagent preparation apparatus 10 of the inspection line 1.

The preparation apparatus state detailed part 430 displays a tableprovided with a field of a reagent name, an apparatus state, a remainingamount value, a message, a preparation complete time, a conductivity,the number of operations of a pump and the number of re-tries for eachof three storing parts 31 a to 31 c (see FIG. 3). A reagent name column431 displays the name of the concentrated reagent in the same way as theconcentrated reagent name display column 411 d (see FIG. 7), and anapparatus state column 432 displays a state of the apparatus. Also, aremaining amount value column 433 displays by percentage the remainingamount of the concentrated reagent calculated based on weight datadetected by the weight sensors 32 a to 32 c (see FIG. 3) having thestoring parts 31 a to 31 c placed thereon. In addition, a message column434 displays an error message, etc., generated in the reagentpreparation apparatus 10. Note that in this embodiment, the errormessage showing “a pressure declines” is displayed in the storing part31 a, and the error message showing “suction of pure water isimpossible” is displayed in the storing part 31 b. Thus, by confirmingthe error message showing “a pressure declines”, the operator canconfirm that the pressure added from a compressor (not shown) forsucking the concentrated reagent A declines in the storing part 31 a inwhich the concentrated reagent A is stored. Also, by confirming theerror message of “suction of pure water is impossible”, the operator canconfirm that the pure water blended with the concentrated reagent Asupplied from the storing part 31 b is not sucked. In addition, apreparation complete time column 435 displays the time when the dilutedsolution prepared by blending pure water and the concentrated reagentshows a desired concentration, and a conductivity column 436 displaysthe electric conductivity of the diluted solution thus prepared.

Further, a number of operations of a pump column 437 displays the numberof operations of the pure water quantity measuring pump 13. Also, anumber of re-tries column 438 displays the number of re-preparations sothat the electric conductivity of the diluted solution is within adesired range when the electric conductivity of the prepared dilutedsolution is not within the desired range.

The reagent feeding apparatus state detailed screen 400 c (see FIG. 9)is the screen displayed by selecting (clicking by using the mouse notshown) the icon 421 a (see FIG. 7) of the aforementioned reagent feedingapparatus information display part 420, and the preparation apparatusinformation display part 410 of the apparatus state screen 400 a shownin FIG. 7 is switched to a reagent feeding apparatus state detailed part440. This reagent feeding apparatus state detailed part 440 has afunction of displaying a detailed state of the reagent feeding apparatus30 (see FIG. 1). Note that this embodiment shows a case that the icon421 a (see FIG. 7) corresponding to the reagent feeding apparatus 30 ofthe inspection line 6 is clicked to display the detailed information ofthe reagent feeding apparatus 30 of the inspection line 6.

The reagent feeding apparatus state detailed part 440 displays a tableprovided with a field of a reagent name, an apparatus state, a tank 1, atank 2, and a message, corresponding to the hemolytic agent (four kindsin this embodiment). A reagent name column 441 displays the name of thehemolytic agent in the same way as the hemolytic agent name displaycolumn 421 d (see FIG. 7), and an apparatus state column 442 displaysthe state of the apparatus. Also, a tank 1 column 443 and a tank 2column 444 display any one of the “supply”, “empty”, or “full” in thesame way as the remaining amount presence/absence display column 421 c(see FIG. 7). In addition, a message column 445 displays the errormessage generated in the reagent feeding apparatus 30. Note that in thisembodiment, the message showing “exchange of reagent completes” is shownfor all the hemolytic agents.

The preparation history screen 400 d (see FIG. 10) is the screendisplayed by selecting the preparation history button 402 displayed oneach screen shown in FIG. 7 to FIG. 12. This preparation history screen400 d is the screen for displaying a preparation history of a normallyprepared concentrated reagent in the reagent preparation apparatus 10(see FIG. 1) provided on each of the inspection lines 1 to 9. Thispreparation history screen 400 d is provided with a preparation historylist part 451 of a table format provided with a field of date, time,inspection line, reagent name, message, conductivity, and the number ofoperations of a pump and the number of re-tries; a condition settingpart 452 for selecting the preparation history of the concentratedreagents displayed in the preparation history list part 451 from theinspection line and the reagent name; and a date/time designation part453 for selecting the preparation history of the concentrated reagentdisplayed in the preparation history list part 451 from the date andtime of preparation.

The condition setting part 452 is provided with a box 452 a capable ofselecting “inspection line 1”, “inspection line 2” . . . “inspectionline 9”, and “all lines”, etc. For example, by selecting the “inspectionline 1” in the box 452 a, by using the mouse, etc., by the operator, thepreparation history of the concentrated reagent prepared by the reagentpreparation apparatus 10 provided on the inspection line 1 is displayedin the preparation history list part 451. In addition, the conditionsetting part 452 is provided with a box 452 b capable of selecting the“concentrated reagent A”, “concentrated reagent B”, and “all reagents”.For example, by selecting the “concentrated reagent A” in the box 452 bby the operator by using the mouse, etc., the preparation history of theconcentrated reagent A prepared by each reagent preparation apparatus 10is displayed in the preparation history list part 451. Note that thisembodiment shows the state that the “all lines” in the box 452 a and the“all reagents” in the box 452 b are selected.

The date/time designation part 453 is provided with a calendar displaybutton 453 a for displaying a calendar (not shown) for designating thedate, and by selecting the date in this calendar, a selected date(“2005/10/03” in the screen) is displayed in a text box 453 b. Also, thedate/time designation part 453 is provided with a box 453 c capable ofselecting “0:00”, “1:00” . . . “23:00”, etc. Further, the date/timedesignation part 453 is provided with a designation method selectingpart 453 d capable of selecting any one of “without designation”,“before”, and “after”. For example, by selecting “2005/10/03” by theaforementioned calendar display button 453 a and selecting “16:00” inthe box 453 c of the date/time designation part 453, and selecting“after” of the designation method selecting part 453 d, using the mouse,etc., by the operator, the preparation history of the concentratedreagent prepared after “16:00” of “2005/10/03” is displayed in thepreparation history list part 451.

Also, the date and time when the concentrated reagent is prepared isdisplayed in the field of the date and the field of the time of thepreparation history list part 451 of the preparation history screen 400d. In addition, the inspection line provided with the reagentpreparation apparatus 10 is displayed in the field of the inspectionline of the preparation history list part 451. Further, the same contentas, a reagent name column 431, a message column 434, a conductivitycolumn 436, a number of operations of a pump column 437, and a number ofre-tries column 438 shown in the preparation apparatus state detailedscreen 400 b (see FIG. 8) is displayed respectively in each field of thereagent name, message, conductivity, the number of operations of pump,and the number of re-tries of the preparation history list part 451.

The preparation error history screen 400 e (see FIG. 11) is the screendisplayed by selecting the preparation error history button 403displayed in each screen shown in FIG. 7 to FIG. 12. This preparationerror history screen 400 e is the screen for displaying the preparationhistory of the concentrated reagent where an error occurs duringpreparation, in the reagent preparation apparatus 10 provided on eachinspection line 1 to 9. As shown in FIG. 11, this preparation errorhistory screen 400 e is provided with a preparation error history listpart 461 of a table format provided with a field of the date, time,inspection line, reagent name, content, and the same condition settingpart 452 and the date/time designation part 453 as those shown in thepreparation history screen 400 of FIG. 10.

In addition, the same contents as those shown in the field of the date,the field of the time, the field of the inspection line, and the fieldof the reagent name of the preparation history list part 451 of theaforementioned reparation history screen 400 d (see FIG. 10) isdisplayed in the field of the date, the field of the time, the field ofthe inspection line, and the field of the reagent name of thepreparation history list part 461 of the preparation error historyscreen 400 e. Also, the same content as that of the error messagedisplayed in the message column 434 (see FIG. 8) shown in thepreparation apparatus state detailed screen 400 b is shown in the fieldof the content of the preparation error history list part 461.

The reagent feeding error history screen 400 f (see FIG. 12) is thescreen displayed by selecting the reagent feeding error history button404 displayed in each screen shown in FIG. 7 to FIG. 12. This reagentfeeding error history screen 400 f is the screen for displaying areagent feeding history of the hemolytic agent that allows a reagentfeeding error to occur in the reagent feeding apparatus 30 provided onthe inspection lines 1 to 8. This reagent feeding error history screen400 f is provided with a reagent feeding error history list part 471 ofa table format provided with the field of the date, time, inspectionline, reagent name, and content, and the same condition setting part 452and a date/time designation part 453 as those shown in theaforementioned preparation history screen 400 d (see FIG. 10) and thepreparation error history screen 400 e (see FIG. 11).

Also, the same contents as those shown in the field of the date, thefield of the time, the field of the inspection line, and the field ofthe reagent name of the aforementioned preparation history screen 400 d(see FIG. 10) and the preparation error history screen 400 e (see FIG.11) are displayed in the field of the date, the field of the time, thefield of the inspection line, and the field of the reagent name of thereagent feeding error history list part 471 of the reagent feeding errorhistory screen 400 f. In addition, the same content as that of the errormessage displayed in the message column 445 (see FIG. 9) shown in thereagent feeding apparatus state detailed screen 400 c is shown in thefield of the content.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing an operation flow of the reagentpreparation apparatus of the analyzing system according to oneembodiment shown in FIG. 1. Next, the operation of the reagentpreparation apparatus 10 of the analyzing system 1 according to oneembodiment of the present invention will be explained with reference toFIG. 1, FIG. 2, FIG. 3, and FIG. 13.

First, in step S1, a state of the dilution part 16, to which the purewater and the concentrated reagent are supplied, is detected by thecontroller 23. Then, in step S2, whether or not there is a necessity ofblending the concentrated reagent and the pure water to prepare thediluted solution is determined. In this step S2, when the request tosupply the diluted solution is received from the hematocyte countingapparatuses 3 (see FIG. 1 and FIG. 2) and the blood sample smearingapparatus 4 (see FIG. 2), this is the case that the diluted solutionneeds to be prepared. Then, in step S2, when it is so determined thatthere is the necessity for preparing the diluted solution, the dilutedsolution of a desired electric conductivity is prepared in step S3.

Then, in this embodiment, when it is so determined that the dilutedsolution needs not to be prepared in step S2, and when the dilutedsolution of a desired electric conductivity is acquired in step S3, theweight data of the storing parts 31 a to 31 c is received from theweight sensors 32 a to 32 c on which the storing parts 31 a to 31 cstoring the concentrated reagent are respectively placed in step S4.Then, based on the weight data thus received, the remaining amount ofthe concentrated reagent is detected.

In this embodiment, in step S5, whether or not the reagent storage tank19 shown in FIG. 3 is empty is determined. When the reagent storage tank19 is determined to be empty in step S5, the diluted solution of adesired electric conductivity is supplied to the reagent storage tank 19in step S6. Note that when it is so determined that the reagent storagetank 19 is not empty in step S5, this is the case that the dilutedsolution of a desired electric conductivity has already been stored inthe reagent storage tank 19. Thereafter, the diluted solution stored inthe reagent storage tank 19 is supplied to each hematocyte countingapparatus 3 or the blood sample smearing apparatus 4. Thereafter, instep S7, the state of the reagent preparation apparatus 10 (in themiddle of operating or during shutdown of the apparatus) is detected,and the state of the apparatus thus detected in the step S7 istransmitted to the server 100 as apparatus state data in the step S8.Thereafter, when this state data is transmitted to the client computer200 (see FIG. 1) from the server 100, background colors of the icon 411a and the icon 421 a displayed on the apparatus state screen 400 a (seeFIG. 7), the preparation apparatus state detailed screen 400 b (see FIG.8), and the reagent feeding apparatus state detailed screen 400 c (seeFIG. 9) are changed and also the display of the apparatus state column432 (see FIG. 8) and the display of the apparatus state column 442 (seeFIG. 9) are changed.

Then, the operations of the aforementioned step S1 to step S8 arerepeated until the operation of the analyzing system 1 is determined toend in step S9. In this way, the operation of the reagent preparationapparatus 10 is controlled.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart for explaining details (sub-routine) ofpreparation of the diluted solution shown in step S3 of FIG. 13. Next,preparation of the reagent in step S3 of FIG. 13 will be explained indetail, with reference to FIG. 1, FIG. 2, FIG. 3, and FIG. 14.

First, when the diluted solution is prepared, in step S31, the purewater quantitatively measured by the pure water quantity measuring tank12 (see FIG. 3) is sent to the dilution part 16 (see FIG. 3), and theconcentrated reagent quantitatively measured by the reagent quantitymeasuring tank 14 (see FIG. 3) is sent to the dilution part 16. Then, bystirring the pure water and the concentrated reagent stored in thedilution part 16 by the stirring wing 17 a (see FIG. 3) of the stirringpart 17, a uniformly blended diluted solution is prepared.

Then, in step S32, the controller 23 (see FIG. 3) reads an upper limitvalue C1 of the electric conductivity and a lower limit value C2 of theelectric conductivity from the memory (not shown) of the controller 23.Note that the upper limit value Cl of the electric conductivity and thelower limit value C2 of the electric conductivity may be stored in theRAM 101 c (see FIG. 5) of the server main body part 101 (see FIG. 1 andFIG. 2) of the server 100. Thereafter, in step S33, the controller 23acquires an electric conductivity C detected by the electricconductivity meter 18 having the detector 18 a (see FIG. 3) that comesin contact with the diluted solution in the dilution part 16.

Then, in this embodiment, in step S34, the controller 23 compares theupper limit value C1 of the electric conductivity and the lower limitvalue C2 of the electric conductivity thus read, and the electricconductivity C of the diluted solution thus acquired. Specifically, thecontroller 23 determines whether or not the electric conductivity C ofthe diluted solution is equal to or more than the lower limit value C2of the read electric conductivity, and also determines whether or not itis equal to or less than the read upper limit value C1 of the electricconductivity. Then, in step S34, when the electric conductivity C of thediluted solution is equal to or less than the upper limit-value C1 andalso equal to or more than the lower limit value C2, in step S35, thecontroller 23 transmits to the server 100 preparation complete dataindicating completion of the preparation of the diluted solution.Thereafter, by transmitting this preparation complete data from theserver 100 to the client computer 200 (see FIG. 1), the message showing“preparation completion” is displayed in a message field of thepreparation history list part 451 (see FIG. 10) displayed in thepreparation history screen 400 d.

Meanwhile, in step S34, when the electric conductivity C of the dilutedsolution is neither equal to or less than the upper limit value C1, norequal to or more than the lower limit value C2, in step S36, thecontroller 23 transmits to the server 100 preparation failure dataindicating failure of the preparation of the diluted solution.Thereafter, in step S37, the diluted solution, whose preparation fails,is discharged from the dilution part 16. Thereafter, the processing isreturned to step S31, and the aforementioned operation is executedagain, so as to acquire the diluted solution of a desired electricconductivity. In this way, the diluted solution of a desired electricconductivity, in which the pure water and the concentrated reagent areblended, is prepared.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart for explaining the details (sub-routine) of thedetection method of the remaining amount of the reagent shown in step S4of FIG. 13. Next, detection of the reagent remaining amount in step S4of FIG. 3 will be explained in detail, with reference to FIG. 1, FIG. 2,FIG. 3, and FIG. 15.

First, in step S41, the controller 23 (see FIG. 3) reads a weight W1when the storing parts 31 a to 31 c (see FIG. 3) are empty and a weightW2 when the storing parts 31 a to 31 c are filled with the concentratedreagent, from the memory (not shown) of the controller 23. Note that theweight W1 when the storing parts 31 a to 31 c are empty and the weightW2 when the storing parts 31 a to 31 c are filled with the concentratedreagent may be stored in the RAM 101 c (see FIG. 5) of the server mainbody part 101 (see FIG. 1 and FIG. 2) of the server 100. Then, in stepS42, the controller 23 acquires the weight data W transmitted from theweight sensors 32 a to 32 c (see FIG. 3) on which the storing parts 31 ato 31 c storing the concentrated reagent are placed.

Then, in step S43, the controller 23 detects a remaining amount R of theconcentrated reagent, based on the weight data W thus acquired.Specifically, by substituting the weights W1 and the W2 read in step S41and the weight data W acquired in step S42, for the following formula(1), the remaining amount R of the concentrated reagent is calculated.Then, in step S44, the remaining amount R of the concentrated reagent(concentrated reagent remaining amount data) thus calculated istransmitted to the server 100. Thereafter, when this concentratedreagent remaining amount data is transmitted to the client computer 200(see FIG. 1) from the server 100, the remaining amount of theconcentrated reagent is reflected on the remaining amount display part411 b and the remaining amount value column 433 displayed in theapparatus state screen 400 a (see FIG. 7) and the preparation apparatusstate detailed screen 400 b (see FIG. 8). In this way, the remainingamount of the concentrated reagent stored in the storing parts 31 a to31 c is acquired.

R=(W−W1)/(W2−W1)   (1)

FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing an operation flow of the reagent feedingapparatus of the analyzing system according to one embodiment shown inFIG. 1. Next, the operation of the reagent feeding apparatus 30 of theanalyzing system 1 according to one embodiment of the present inventionwill be explained, with reference to FIG. 1, FIG. 2, FIG. 4, FIG. 7,FIG. 9, and FIG. 16. Note that here, an explanation is given to a caseof supplying the hemolytic agent stored in the reagent tanks 33 a andthe 33 b (see FIG. 4), and the explanation for the operation ofsupplying the hemolytic agent stored in the reagent tanks 33 c to 33 jis omitted.

First, the reagent tank 33 a (see FIG. 4) and the reagent tank 33 b (seeFIG. 4) filled with the same hemolytic agent (hemolytic agent A) areprepared. Then, the reagent tank 33 a is connected to a portion on theelectromagnetic valve 251 a (see FIG. 4) side of the switching valve 25a, and the reagent tank 33 b is connected to a portion on theelectromagnetic valve 252 a side of the switching valve 25 a. Then, instep S11, the controller 26 transmits to the server 100 the data(hemolytic agent remaining amount data) indicating that the reagent tank33 a and the reagent tank 33 b are filled with the hemolytic agent.Thereafter, when this hemolytic agent remaining amount data istransmitted to the client computer 200 (see FIG. 1) from the server 100,“full” is displayed in the apparatus state screen 400 a (see FIG. 7) andthe remaining amount presence/absence display column 421 c of thereagent feeding apparatus information display part 420 of the reagentfeeding apparatus state detailed screen 400 c (see FIG. 9), and also“full” is displayed in the tank 1 column 443 and the tank 2 column 444of the reagent feeding apparatus state detailed part 440 of the reagentfeeding apparatus state detailed screen 400 c.

Then, in step S12, the controller 26 opens the electromagnetic valve 251a for opening and closing the flow passage through which the hemolyticagent sent out from the reagent tank 33 a flows, and closes theelectromagnetic valve 252 a for opening and closing the flow passagethrough which the hemolytic agent sent out from the reagent tank 33 bflows. Thus, the hemolytic agent stored in the reagent tank 33 a issupplied to the hematocyte counting apparatuses 3 by the switching valve25 a. Then, in step S13, the controller 26 transmits to the server 100the data (electromagnetic valve switching data) indicating that theelectromagnetic valve 251 a opens and the electromagnetic valve 252 acloses.

Then, in step S14, the controller 26 transmits to the server 100 thedata (apparatus state data) indicating that the hemolytic agent storedin the reagent tank 33 a is being supplied to the hematocyte countingapparatuses 3. Thereafter, when the hemolytic agent remaining amountdata is transmitted from the server 100 to the client computer 200 (seeFIG. 1), “full” is switched to “supply”, which is displayed in a placecorresponding to the reagent tank 33 a of the remaining amountpresence/absence display column 421 c of the reagent feeding apparatusinformation display part 420, and also “full” is switched to “supply”,which is displayed in the tank 1 column 443 corresponding to the reagenttank 33 a of the reagent feeding apparatus state detailed part 440.

Thereafter, in step S15, the hemolytic agent in the reagent tank 33 a issupplied to the hematocyte counting apparatuses 3, until the floatswitch 34 a (see FIG. 4) disposed in the reagent tank 33 a is set OFF.Then, in step S15, when the float switch 34 a is set OFF, in step S16,the controller 26 transmits to the server 100 the data (hemolytic agentremaining amount data) indicating that the reagent tank 33 a is empty.Thus, “supply” is switched to “empty”, which is displayed in a placecorresponding to the reagent tank 33 a of the remaining amountpresence/absence display column 421 c of the reagent feeding apparatusinformation display part 420, and also “supply” is switched to “empty”,which is displayed in the tank 1 column 443 corresponding to the reagenttank 33 a of the reagent feeding apparatus state detailed part 440.

Then, in step S17, the electromagnetic valve 251 a for opening andclosing the flow passage closes, through which the hemolytic agent sentout from the reagent tank 33 a flows, and also the electromagnetic valve252 a for opening and closing the flow passage opens, through which thehemolytic agent sent out from the reagent tank 33 b flows. Thus, thehemolytic agent stored in the reagent tank 33 b is supplied to thehematocyte counting apparatuses 3 by the switching valve 25 a. Then, instep S18, the controller 26 transmits to the server 100 the data(electromagnetic switching data) indicating that the electromagneticvalve 252 a opens and the electromagnetic valve 251 a closes.

Then, in step S19, the controller 26 transmits to the server 100 thedata (apparatus state data) indicating that the hemolytic agent storedin the reagent tank 33 b is being supplied to the hematocyte countingapparatuses 3. Thereafter, when the hemolytic agent remaining amountdata is transmitted to the client computer 200 (see FIG. 1), “full” isswitched to “supply”, which is displayed in a place corresponding to thereagent tank 33 b of the remaining amount presence/absence displaycolumn 421 c of the reagent feeding apparatus information display part420, and also “full” is switched to “supply”, which is displayed in thetank 2 column 444 corresponding to the reagent tank 33 b of the reagentfeeding apparatus state detailed part 440.

Thereafter, in step S20, the hemolytic agent in the reagent tank 33 b issupplied to the hematocyte counting apparatuses 3, until the floatswitch 34 b (see FIG. 4) disposed in the reagent tank 33 b is set OFF.Then, in step S20, when the float switch 34 b is set OFF, in step S21,the controller 26 transmits to the server 100 the data (hemolytic agentremaining amount data) indicating that the reagent tank 33 b is empty.Thereafter, when this hemolytic agent remaining amount data istransmitted to the client computer 200 (see FIG. 1) from the server 100,“supply” is switched to “empty”, which is displayed in a placecorresponding to the reagent tank 33 b of the remaining amountpresence/absence display column 421 c of the reagent feeding apparatusinformation display part 420, and also “supply” is switched to “empty”,which is displayed in the tank 2 column 444 corresponding to the reagenttank 33 b of the reagent feeding apparatus state detailed part 440.

Thereafter, in step S22, the state of the reagent feeding apparatus 30(in the middle of operating or during shutdown of the apparatus) isdetected, and in step S23, the state detected in step S22 is transmittedto the server 100 (see FIG. 1 and FIG. 2), as apparatus state data.Then, in step S24, the operations of the aforementioned steps S11 tostep S23 are repeated, until the operation of the analyzing system 1 isdetermined to end. In this way, the operation of the reagent feedingapparatus 30 is controlled.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing an exchange of data between a sever and aclient in the analyzing system according to one embodiment as shown inFIG. 1. Next, the exchange of data between the server 100 and the clientcomputer 200 is explained, with reference to FIG. 1, FIG. 2, FIG. 7 toFIG. 12, and FIG. 17. The user operates the input part 203 of the clientcomputer 200, and gives an instruction to start an application programof the Web browser. The CPU 201 a receives this instruction, and loadsthe application program of the Web browser into the RAM 201 c.

First, on the side of the server 100 (see FIG. 1 and FIG. 2), instepS51, the CPU 101 a of the server 100 determines whether or not each kindof data transmitted from nine reagent preparation apparatuses 10 (seeFIG. 2) and eight reagent feeding apparatuses 30 (see FIG. 2) isreceived. Specifically, it is determined whether or not the apparatusstate data (step S8 of FIG. 13), preparation complete data (step S35 ofFIG. 14), preparation failure data (step S36 of FIG. 14), andconcentrated reagent remaining amount data (step S44 of FIG. 15) of thereagent preparation apparatus 10 transmitted from the reagentpreparation apparatus 10, and the apparatus state data (step S14, stepS19, and step S23 of FIG. 16), electromagnetic valve switching data(step S13 and step S18 of FIG. 16), and hemolytic agent remaining amountdata (step S11, step S16, and step S21 of FIG. 16) of the reagentfeeding apparatus 30 transmitted from the reagent feeding apparatus 30are received.

Then, in step S51, when the CPU 101 a determined that each kind of datafrom each apparatus (the reagent preparation apparatus 10 and thereagent feeding apparatus 30) is received, in step S52, the CPU 101 astores each kind of data thus received in the RAM 101 c (see FIG. 5) ofthe server main body part 101. Then, in step S51, when the CPU 101 adetermined that each kind of data from each apparatus is not received,and in step S52, when each kind of data transmitted from each apparatusis stored in the RAM 101 c of the server main body part 101, in stepS53, the CPU 101 a determines whether or not transmission request datatransmitted from the client computer 200 (see FIG. 1) is received. Then,in step S53, when it is so determined that the transmission request datais not received, the aforementioned processing of step S51 and step S52is repeated, until the transmission request data is received.

Then, in step S53, when the transmission request data is received, instep S54, display data is generated by using each kind of data stored inthe RAM 101 c of the server main body part 101. This display data isHTML (Hyper Text Markup Language) data, being the data that can bebrowsed by using the Web browser installed on the client computer 200.Then, in step S55, the CPU 101 a transmits the display data thusgenerated to the client computer 200 through the communication network300 (see FIG. 1). Thereafter, in step S56, the aforementioned processingof step S51 to step S55 is repeated, until the analyzing system 1 isended. In this way, the processing on the side of the server 100 iscompleted.

Meanwhile, on the side of the client computer 200, in step S61, the CPU201 a of the client computer 200 transmits the transmission request datato the server 100, so as to transmit the display data (HTML data)necessary in browsing by using the installed Web browser. Then, in stepS62, the CPU 201 a determines whether or not the display datatransmitted from the server 100 is received. The processing of this stepS62 is repeated until the display data is received. Then, in step S62,when it is so determined that the display data is received, in step S63,the display screen (see FIG. 7 to FIG. 12) displayed in the display part202 of the client computer 200 is updated.

Thereafter, in step S64, by repeating the aforementioned processing ofstep S61 to step S63 until the analyzing system 1 is ended, the displayscreen (see FIG. 7 to FIG. 12) is successively updated by using thedisplay data transmitted from the server 100. In this way, theprocessing of the client computer 200 is completed.

In this embodiment, as described above, the client computer 200 receivesthe display data generated by the server 100 and comprises the displaypart 202 for displaying the remaining amount of the reagent(concentrated reagent and the hemolytic agent) and the operationstate(icons 411 a and 421 a) of the reagent preparation apparatus 10 andthe reagent feeding apparatus 30 of each inspection line 1 to 9.Accordingly, the operator can confirm all of the remaining amount of thereagent used in each apparatus and the operation state thereof, in thedisplay part 202 of the client computer 200. Therefore, it is notnecessary for the operator to move to each apparatus to confirm theremaining amount of the reagent used in each apparatus of eachinspection line 1 to 9 and the operation state thereof, thus making itpossible to confirm the remaining amount of the reagent used in eachapparatus and the operation state thereof without requiring labor andtime. As a result, the operator can efficiently monitor the informationregarding the remaining amount of the reagent used in each apparatus andthe operation state thereof.

In addition, in this embodiment, the server 100 is connected to aplurality of reagent supplying apparatuses 2 and the client computer 200through a communication network, receives the information regarding theremaining amount of the reagent and the information regarding theoperation state of the plurality of reagent supplying apparatuses 2, andgenerates the display data. With this structure, the display data can begenerated by the server 100 that receives the information regarding theremaining amount of the reagent and the information indicating theoperation state of the plurality of reagent supplying apparatuses 2. Asa result, each kind of information thus received can be processed by theserver 100, and therefore the display data can be efficiently generated.

Also, in this embodiment, the reagent feeding apparatus 30 includes aplurality of reagent tanks (33 a to 33 j), switching valves (25 a to 25e) for switching the reagent tanks as supply sources of the reagent, andthe controller 26 for controlling the operation of the switching valveso as to switch the reagent tanks as the supply sources of the reagent,based on the remaining amount of the reagent thus acquired. With thisstructure, when the reagent stored in one of the reagent tanks is empty,the reagent tanks can be switched so that the reagent can be suppliedfrom the other reagent tank. As a result, even if the reagent of one ofthe reagent tanks is empty, the reagent can be continuously supplied tothe hematocyte counting apparatuses 3 from the other reagent tank.

In addition, in this embodiment, by providing in the reagent preparationapparatus 10, the electric conductivity meter 18 for detecting theelectric conductivity of the diluted solution stored in the dilutionpart 16, the electric conductivity of the diluted solution supplied tothe hematocyte counting apparatuses 3 and the blood sample smearingapparatus 4 can be monitored. Thus, variation of the electricconductivity of the diluted solution supplied to the hematocyte countingapparatuses 3, etc., can be prevented. As a result, the hematocytecounting apparatuses 3, etc can analyze by using the diluted solutionwith substantially constant electric conductivity, and therefore anaccurate analysis result can be obtained.

The embodiment disclosed herein is in all aspects simply an example andnot to be considered limiting in any way. The scope of the presentinvention is defined in the scope of the claims and not by thedescription of the embodiment, and further includes all modifications,meanings and equivalences that fall within the scope of the claims.

For example, in the example of the embodiment described above, thecontroller of the reagent preparation apparatus calculates the remainingamount of the concentrated reagent, based on the weight data transmittedfrom the weight sensor. However, the present invention is not limitedthereto, and the processing of calculating the remaining amount of theconcentrated reagent may be performed by the main body of the server ormay be performed by the main body of the client.

Also, in the example of the embodiment described above, the remainingamount of the concentrated reagent is calculated based on the weightdata transmitted from the weight sensor. However, the present inventionis not limited thereto, and the concentrated reagent may be calculatedbased on a liquid level detected by a sensor, which is provided fordetecting the liquid level of the reagent. As the aforementioned sensor,an electrical sensor for detecting a contact between a reagent samplingnozzle and a liquid surface by a change of an electrostatic capacitanceand an electrical resistance, and an optical sensor for opticallymonitoring the liquid level can be applied.

In addition, in the example of the embodiment described above, thedisplay data is generated on the side of the server by using each kindof data transmitted to the main body part of the server. However, thepresent invention is not limited thereto, and each kind of datatransmitted from each apparatus (the reagent preparation apparatus andthe reagent feeding apparatus) may be received by the client withoutproviding the server, and the display data may be generated on the sideof the client by using the data thus received. With this structure,integrated information can be generated by a monitoring apparatus,without providing the computer such as a server for generating theintegrated information integrating the remaining amount of the reagentand the operation state of each reagent supplying apparatus.

Further, in the example of the embodiment described above, the displaydata is displayed on the display screen of the display part 202 of theclient computer 200. However, the display data may be displayed to theoperator by printing this display data on a paper.

Also, in the example of the embodiment described above, presence/absenceof the hemolytic agent stored in the reagent tank is detected by thefloat switch. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, andinstead of providing the float switch, the reagent tank storing thehemolytic agent may be placed on the weight sensor. Thus, not only thepresence/absence of the hemolytic agent, but also the remaining amountof the hemolytic agent can be acquired.

In addition, in the apparatus state screen (see FIG. 7) of the exampleof the aforementioned embodiment, the mark “

” is displayed to request the exchange of the reagent. However, thepresent invention is not limited thereto, and in addition to this mark “

”, “exchange” may be displayed to further urge the operator to exchangethe reagent.

Also, in the example of the embodiment described above, three sets ofpure water quantity measuring tank, pure water quantity measuring pump,reagent quantity measuring tank, concentrated reagent quantity measuringpump, dilution part, stirring part, electric conductivity meter, reagentstorage tank, circulation pump, filter, and reagent supplying tank areprovided so as to correspond to three storing parts. However, thepresent invention is not limited thereto, and the switching part (suchas a switching valve) for switching three storing parts may be providedin the reagent preparation apparatus, and also one set of theaforementioned each part may be provided. In this case, althoughblending of concentrated reagents occurs for each storing part in thereagent preparation apparatus, when the same kind of concentratedreagent is used, the constitution of the reagent preparation apparatuscan be simplified.

1. A centralized monitoring system, comprising: a plurality of reagentsupplying apparatuses, each of the reagent supplying apparatusescomprising supplying means for supplying a reagent to an analyzer foranalyzing a measurement sample prepared from a sample and the reagent,and transmitting means for transmitting information regarding remainingamount of the reagent; generation means for generating integratedinformation by integrating the each remaining amount of the reagent inthe reagent supplying apparatuses based on the information regarding theremaining amount of the reagent transmitted by the transmitting means;and display means for displaying the each remaining amount of thereagent in the reagent supplying apparatuses based on the integratedinformation generated by the generation means.
 2. The centralizedmonitoring system of claim 1, further comprising a monitoring apparatusfor monitoring the each remaining amount of the reagent in the reagentsupplying apparatuses, the monitoring apparatus being communicativelyconnected to each of the reagent supplying apparatuses, wherein thedisplay means is provided in the monitoring apparatus.
 3. Thecentralized monitoring system of claim 2, wherein the generation meansis provided in the monitoring apparatus.
 4. The centralized monitoringsystem of claim 2, further comprising an information collectingapparatus for collecting the information regarding each remaining amountof the reagent in the reagent supplying apparatuses, the informationcollecting apparatus being communicatively connected to each of thereagent supplying apparatuses and the monitoring apparatus, wherein thegeneration means is provided in the information collecting apparatus. 5.The centralized monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the reagentsupplying apparatus further comprises remaining amount acquiring meansfor acquiring a remaining amount of the reagent, and the transmittingmeans transmits the remaining amount of the reagent acquired by theremaining amount acquiring means.
 6. The centralized monitoring systemof claim 5, wherein the reagent supplying apparatus further comprises: astoring part for storing the reagent; and a weight detector fordetecting a weight of the storing part, wherein the remaining amountacquiring means acquires the remaining amount of the reagent, based on aweight of the storing part detected by the weight detector.
 7. Thecentralized monitoring system of claim 5, wherein the reagent supplyingapparatus further comprises: a storing part for storing the reagent; anda liquid level detector for detecting a liquid level in the storingpart, wherein the remaining amount acquiring means acquires theremaining amount of the reagent, based on the liquid level in thestoring part detected by the liquid level detector.
 8. The centralizedmonitoring system of claim 6, wherein a plurality of the storing partsare provided in the reagent supplying apparatus, and the reagentsupplying apparatus further comprises: a switching part for switchingthe storing part which is a supplying source of the reagent; determiningmeans for determining whether or not the storing part is switched, basedon the remaining amount of the reagent acquired by the remaining amountacquiring means; and a controller for controlling an operation of theswitching part so as to switch the storing part, when the determiningmeans so determines that the storing part is switched.
 9. Thecentralized monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the reagent supplyingapparatus further comprises: a storing part for storing the reagent; anda weight detector for detecting a weight of the storing part, whereinthe information regarding the remaining amount of the reagenttransmitted by the transmitting means includes weight informationindicating the weight of the storing part detected by the weightdetector, and the centralized monitoring system further comprisesremaining amount acquiring means for acquiring the remaining amount ofthe reagent, based on the weight information transmitted by thetransmitting means.
 10. The centralized monitoring system of claim 1,wherein the reagent supplying apparatus further comprises: a storingpart for storing the reagent; and a liquid level detector for detectinga liquid level in the storing part, wherein the information regardingthe remaining amount of the reagent transmitted by the transmittingmeans includes liquid level information indicating the liquid level inthe storing part detected by the liquid level detector, and thecentralized monitoring system further comprises remaining amountacquiring means for acquiring the remaining amount of the reagent, basedon the liquid level information transmitted by the transmitting means.11. The centralized monitoring system of claim 1, wherein thetransmitting means further transmits information indicating an operationstate of the reagent supplying apparatus, and the generation meansgenerates the integrated information further including the operationstate of the reagent supplying apparatuses, based on the informationregarding the remaining amount of the reagent and the informationindicating the operation state transmitted by the transmitting means,and the display means further displays the operation state of thereagent supplying apparatuses, based on the integrated informationgenerated by the generation means.
 12. The centralized monitoring systemof claim 1, wherein the reagent supplying apparatus further comprises: apreparation part for preparing the reagent; a preparation stateinformation acquisition part for acquiring preparation state informationindicating a preparation state of the reagent prepared by thepreparation part; and preparation state information transmitting meansfor transmitting the preparation state information acquired by thepreparation state information acquisition part, wherein the generationmeans generates the integrated information further including thepreparation state of the reagent, based on the preparation stateinformation transmitted by the preparation state informationtransmitting means, and the display means further displays thepreparation state of the reagent in the reagent supplying apparatuses,based on the integrated information generated by the generation means.13. The centralized monitoring system of claim 12, wherein the reagentsupplying apparatus further comprises a concentration detector fordetecting a concentration of a specific substance in the liquid in thepreparation part, and the preparation state information acquisition partacquires the preparation state information, based on the concentrationdetected by the concentration detector.
 14. An analyzing system,comprising: an analyzer for analyzing a measurement sample prepared froma sample and a reagent; a plurality of reagent supplying apparatuses,each of the reagent supplying apparatuses comprising supplying means forsupplying the reagent to the analyzer, and transmitting means fortransmitting information regarding remaining amount of the reagent;generation means for generating integrated information by integratingthe each remaining amount of the reagent in the reagent supplyingapparatuses based on the information regarding the remaining amount ofthe reagent transmitted by the transmitting means; and display means fordisplaying the each remaining amount of the reagent in the reagentsupplying apparatuses based on the integrated information generated bythe generation means.
 15. The analyzing system of claim 14, furthercomprising a monitoring apparatus for monitoring the each remainingamount of the reagent in the reagent supplying apparatuses, themonitoring apparatus being communicatively connected to each of thereagent supplying apparatuses, wherein the display means is provided inthe monitoring apparatus.
 16. The analyzing system of claim 15, whereinthe generation means is provided in the monitoring apparatus.
 17. Theanalyzing system of claim 15, further comprising an informationcollecting apparatus for collecting the information regarding eachremaining amount of the reagent in the reagent supplying apparatuses,the information collecting apparatus being communicatively connected toeach of the reagent supplying apparatuses and the monitoring apparatus,wherein the generation means is provided in the information collectingapparatus.
 18. The analyzing system of claim 14, wherein thetransmitting means further transmits information indicating an operationstate of the reagent supplying apparatus; the generation means generatesthe integrated information further including the operation state of thereagent supplying apparatuses, based on the information regarding theremaining amount of the reagent and the information indicating theoperation state transmitted by the transmitting means; and the displaymeans further displays the operation state of the reagent supplyingapparatuses, based on the integrated information generated by thegeneration means.
 19. A centralized monitoring method, comprising stepsof: (a) collecting information regarding each remaining amount of areagent in a plurality of reagent supplying apparatuses, each of thereagent supplying apparatuses being configured to supply the reagent toan analyzer for analyzing a measurement sample prepared from a sampleand the reagent; and (b) displaying the each remaining amount of thereagent in the reagent supplying apparatuses based on the informationcollected by the step (a).
 20. The centralized monitoring method ofclaim 19, further comprising: (c) collecting information indicatingoperation state of the reagent supplying apparatuses, and (d) displayingthe operation state of the reagent supplying apparatuses based on theinformation collected by the step (c).